Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Crab fest organizers work to save arch

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

RONAN – People gathered in Bockman Park for the annual crab fest hosted by the Chamber of Commerce to raise money for community projects on Friday. This year the focus is on helping save the iconic Ronan arch. 

“The arch is safe for now, but the logs are rotting,” said Brandy Chisholm, volunteer. 

The arch consists of several logs held up by concrete pillars that cross over Main Street. A large wooden Ronan sign hangs from the center. Locals claim the iconic landmark is the largest public arch in Montana.

Chisholm said a community effort led by Ronan High School students in 2002 put the arch in place. “It was a community project back then, and we need another community project to repair it,” she said.

She added that the repair project is estimated to cost between $30,000 to $50,000, so the community has a lot of fundraising to do. During the crab fest, a duck race – with plastic ducks – took off down the creek. Proceeds from the race will also support the arch project.

As residents gathered at tables and in lawn chairs brought from home, large bowls of salad were set out and butter was melted. More than 600 pounds of crab went into a large 80-gallon pot, about the size of a small dinning-room table, that was said to have been on a navy ship.

Volunteer Duncan Chisholm, 14, spread a big batch of freshly cooked crab over a bed of ice as people lined up to fill their plates. Mark Nelson and Thom Chisholm kept the crab cooking during the event while other volunteers organized the rest of the dinner.

Mariah Mason sat down with a plate of crab, and after tasting her dinner said it was amazing. Organizers said people enjoy the event so much that they are trying to set it up every year instead of every other year. 

Sponsored by: